baker



(No Model.)

A. H. BAKER.

LAST.

any:

UNITED STATES PATENT EEmE.

ANDREIV II. BAKER, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

LAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,102, dated June 8, 1897'.

Application filed December 2, 1896. Serial No. 614,195. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW II. BAKER, of Brockton, county of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Lasts, of which the following description,

in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

In the manufacture of boots and shoes the last on which the upper is lasted is removed and a finishing-last is inserted in the shoe for finishing, the. Shoes are made of certain lengths, and each length of shoe is duplicated in different widths to thus enable customers to be properly fitted, but an ordinary last cannot fill out a shoe of, say, the width A and also widths B, G, and D, &c., and consequently a great number of finishing-lasts are required.

I have aimed to and have produced a last which may be readily made to fill and properly distend the uppers of shoes of different widths.

My improved last presents a heel end and crown with a hole for the reception of the usual holding-pin, and the fore part is separated from its toe end toward the crown of the last, the separation appearing at the side of the last, and between this separated fore part I have placed an expanding device, a last so constructed being adapted to be pinched together to be inserted into the shoe, when it will expand to fit and fill the upper.

I have shown the inner side of the toe and foot of the last as made movable, for it is the inner side of the shoe which it is hardest for the last to fit and hold up properly.

Figure 1 shows an inner side view of one of my improved lasts; Fig. 2, a top view; Fig. 3, an under side View; and Fig. 4, a section on the line a", Fig. 1.

The heel part A of the last has a crown a, provided with a hole a to receive the usual stiii pin to hold the last in firmly when the shoe is being finished.

The outside A of the last is shown as integral with the heel, but the inner side 13 of the last is shown as separated or cut from the outer side by a cut starting at the toe, running th rough substantially the middle of the last to the crown, and the cut is then turned through the last at its inner side.

The part B so cut from the last is suitably connected to the remaining part of the last, but loosely, so that the fore part may be nor mally separated by a suitable spring.

The connection between the fore part of the last is herein shown as effected by two rods or screws 0, screwed into the part A, the shanks of the screws and their heads entering loosely recesses in the movable part B of the last and forming a stop, a suitable spring or springs placed between the parts A and B acting normally to expand the last in the direction of its width, the extent to which the springs may act being limited by adjustment of the screws.

To put the last in a shoe, the part B maybe closed up to the part A, and when released the springs will expand the fore part.

This invention is not limited to the particular shape shown for the expanding device or spring.

I have herein shown the inner side of the fore part of the last as detached from the heel, but it will be obvious that the outer side may be separated in like manner from the heel.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A last consisting of a heel part having a crown, and a divided fore part, combined with a spring located in said fore part and acting normally to keep it separated in the shoe, substantially as described.

2. A shoe filling and holding last presenting a divided fore part, springs placed in the said fore part to normally move one part away from the other part, and stops connected with one part and extended loosely through the other part to act as guides for the movable part and to also limit the extent of movement of the movable part from the other part, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDRE\V II. BAKER.

Witnesses:

GEo. W. GREGORY, ADDIE F. DANIELS. 

